Either Paul or John said this came from one of Ringo's malaprops. I was happily driving along, listening to Revolver, when suddenly the double entendre of "Rubber Soul" hit me! The more I know, the more lights go off in my head like this

Half of what I say is meaningless...

I feel good in a special way, I'm in love and it's asunny day

BeatlesBible.com earns royalties if you use these links when shopping: Amazon | iTunes

18 May 20141.09am

Starr Shine?

Waiting in the Sky

Apple rooftop

Forum Posts: 13207

Member Since: 1 November 2013

Offline

2

I all ways thought the name came because the beatles found out that souls felt like rubber

she was the sun, burning bright and brittle and,

If you can't log in and can't use the forum go here and someone will help you out.

18 May 20142.33am

Matt Busby

In the town where I was born

Shea Stadium

Forum Posts: 931

Member Since: 7 February 2014

Offline

3

I'm not sure, but I think it's Paul in Anthology (DVDs) that says it started as one of Ringo's malaprops (can't be sure as I've seen a bunch of docu's lately). And it was on Anthology 2 cd 1 where Paul can be heard saying "Plastic soul. Plastic soul, man" (1963 I think). I could picture Ringo saying something goofy and one of them picking up on it, then bandying it about.

@Starr Shine? , I never thought that exactly, that they felt like rubber, more like they were not solid, somewhat changeable, but bounced back - like rubber. But it would be just like them to word it so it could be "Rubber Sole". This would be like they did naming the group after the Crickets, thinking it was a double entendre with the bug and the British game. But when they talked to some member(s) of the Crickets, they said they had never heard of the game (again, from the Anthology dvds). They named themselves [Buddy Holly and] the Crickets because there was this unique sound they heard when rehearsing in the garage, and it turned out to be a cricket. But it shows (as well as many lyrics do) that they used homonyms/alternate meanings of same spellings well (and also as I noted somewhere else, they chose the Queen's or American english, depending on which rhymed better).

Half of what I say is meaningless...

I feel good in a special way, I'm in love and it's asunny day

BeatlesBible.com earns royalties if you use these links when shopping: Amazon | iTunes

18 May 20146.44am

vonbontee

Inside an Apple Orchard in a Letterbox

Rishikesh

Forum Posts: 2834

Member Since: 1 December 2009

Offline

4

There was a fairly interesting thread last summer about Beatles' album titles (and album title cuts) in general, and "With The Beatles" in particular. When I find it, I'll edit this post to include a link...

I remember George saying 'Blimey, he's always talking about “Yesterday”, you'd think he was Beethoven or somebody' - Paul McCartney

18 May 201411.17am

TT454

Casbah Coffee Club

Forum Posts: 17

Member Since: 6 May 2014

Offline

5

I always thought it meant rubber sole, as in the rubber of a shoe? With "sole" changed to "soul" because it was the first album in which they truly felt they put their heart and soul into it.

18 May 20141.53pm

Mr. Kite

910 Penny Lane, Strawberry Fields, Pepperland

Apple rooftop

Forum Posts: 6133

Member Since: 4 February 2014

Offline

6

TT454 said

I always thought it meant rubber sole, as in the rubber of a shoe? With "sole" changed to "soul" because it was the first album in which they truly felt they put their heart and soul into it.

I didn't think about the second part, but that's how I think they got Rubber Sole/Soul.

If I spoke prose you'd all find out, I don't know what I talk about.

Can buy Joe love!
If you're shopping at one of these two websites use the links below to support the Beatles Bible: Amazon | iTunes

18 May 20146.01pm

Matt Busby

In the town where I was born

Shea Stadium

Forum Posts: 931

Member Since: 7 February 2014

Offline

7

Mr. Kite said

TT454 said

I always thought it meant rubber sole, as in the rubber of a shoe? With "sole" changed to "soul" because it was the first album in which they truly felt they put their heart and soul into it.

I didn't think about the second part, but that's how I think they got Rubber Sole/Soul.

But what about the "Plastic soul" John referred to in '63? I think it originated as something someone (Ringo?) said, and they let it germinate in their minds until someone came up with "Rubber Soul" because it could also mean "Rubber Sole".

OTOH, everyone interprets are differently. That's what makes it art. It's no stretch to say that the album name is part of the artistry of the whole thing, especially with the Beatles' penchant for wordplay and theme.

Half of what I say is meaningless...

I feel good in a special way, I'm in love and it's asunny day

BeatlesBible.com earns royalties if you use these links when shopping: Amazon | iTunes

18 May 20146.49pm

meanmistermustard

Moderator

Forum Posts: 19678

Member Since: 1 May 2011

Offline

8

Paul saying "Plastic soul, man. Plastic soul" is at the end of take 1 of I'm Down on Anthology 2, so 1965.

I've always taken it as a play on plastic soul which wiki describes as "a term coined during the 1960's by popular black musicians to describe Mick Jagger, a white musician singing soul music." and adds "Paul McCartney later referenced the phrase as the name of the The Beatles album Rubber Soul which was inspired by the term "plastic soul"."

Can buy me love

The Beatles Bible is run for the love of anything and everything to do with The Beatles. If you've learned something new about the band and wish to show your appreciation, why not make a small donation via PayPal? It'll help with server costs, research material etc...